Now they will have to make their way to Belfast City Hospital from every county across Northern Ireland and queue for their treatment every three weeks.

And today Belfast Live readers have offered help.

One woman who is living with breast cancer said: “This is disgusting. I would be willing to help with travel also, I am a BRCA2 so I also attend the City Hospital quite often. I’m wishing you the very best and my offer is there.”

Breast Cancer Awarness Ribbon

Another reader used Facebook to say: “This is absolutely scandalous. If I can help with transport in anyway please contact me.”

And others urged Stormont politicians to get the Health Minister back in office to sort out the issues.

One woman wrote: “The politicians must put their petty squabbles aside and start to sort out these issues. My mother was fortunate to receive Herceptin and the service and treatment was invaluable.”

Pamela Reed said on Facebook: "The health minister needs to get back to work as they all do and get this sorted absolute disgrace.”

More than 60 patients across Northern Ireland who are part of the programme, are treated every three weeks with an injection of Herceptin, the drug regarded as the gold standard treatment to stop breast cancer returning.

Specialist nurses employed by private firm Healthcare At Home, and paid for by pharmaceutical company Roche, have been travelling to patients’ homes to administer treatments.

But Roche have had to pull the plug after giving the Belfast Trust a three month extension on the service in the hope they would be able to take it over as expected.

The Trust are now writing to patients to explain their treatment will now have to take place in Belfast.

One woman who had been getting the Healthcare at Home service, said: “I’m gutted this has happened.

“The trust have had time to get this organised as was obviously expected by Roche who make Herceptin but they have failed to come up with anything other than say the treatments will go ahead if we can make it to the City Hospital.

“I feel very humbled and emotional that complete strangers have reached out to us on Facebook to offer their help. And I’m very grateful. People understand the stresses illness puts families under and when we have to travel long distances to get treatment, it just adds to the problems. So I’d like to thank the people who have offered their help - it shouldn’t need to happen.”